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Various Mystery Shopping Jobs

When mystery shopping first came on the scene many years ago, you went and did the shop, and then filled out a survey type questionnaire and sent it back in to your employer, who then paid you for your work. You were given a long form, with questions on both sides, and you simply checked a box as you went down, was your food hot, yes or no, did the employees seem friendly and focused, yes or no, and so on down the line. While some mystery shopping jobs will still use this type of form, there are many others now available, so you should take the time to learn about all of them if you are serious about your mystery shopping job.

 

Thanks to the advances that have been made in modern technology over the years, many of your mystery shopper reports can be filled out and sent in electronically, via email or website. This cuts down on the time it takes for your employer to receive your feedback, and your wait for payment.

In some ways, however, this same technology has helped limit the demand for mystery shoppers somewhat. Thanks to so many people now being able to shop online for their needs, companies who do business in this manner dont really have to be concerned with what you think, as you dont ever see the inside of their store, or have any one on one contact with any of their employees. So, in the world of mystery shopping, technology has been both a blessing and a curse.

Many businesses operate call centers, where customers can call in for product service, questions, or complaints as needed. The company who provides this service has to be certain that their employees are taking care of the needs of their customers in a polite, friendly manner, and that wait times are at a minimum, etc. That being said, you may be assigned a mystery shopping job that you can do right from the privacy of your own home, calling in to one of these customer service centers, and rating your service. You will likely be asked to report on your wait time, employee friendliness, and the support you received, as well as many other details as the employer sees fit.

Another way that some companies are erasing the need of hiring mystery shoppers is by installing video surveillance cameras in the workplace. These cameras are usually linked into the corporate office, where anyone at any time can link up and see what is going on in any given store. If a customer has a complaint about a specific day, a supervisor can even go back to the day in question and view the scenario, visualizing the problems and then taking action to correct them as needed. Not every store does this, as it can be quite expensive, and some still prefer the anonymity of the mystery shopper. Employees know that cameras are installed, and they adjust their actions accordingly, where if you, as a mystery shopper, do a good job, they will be none the wiser that you are there.

Just remember, no matter what type of mystery shopping assignment you receive, you are the voice of the customer. If you see something that needs to be changed or done differently, you should speak up, that is your job, after all.

Shoppers fun to watch - TMCnet


Shoppers fun to watch
TMCnet - Nov 29, 2008
I was a little angry until I remembered I was getting paid to stand out in the cold. They couldn't make the same claim I bet. Spending money at 4 o'clock in ...

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Black Friday: Let the shopping begin - San Jose Mercury News


Black Friday: Let the shopping begin
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Nov 28, 2008
His patience paid off when someone randomly asked if anyone wanted a plasma TV voucher. Valda snapped it up and spent the next few hours waiting in ...

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Secret shopper solicitation is a super seductive scam - KY3


Secret shopper solicitation is a super seductive scam
KY3, MO - Nov 18, 2008
“You are selected to participate in a paid mystery shoppers program as research personnel,” the letters say. Angela Fellers-Beard received a letter and ...

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Mystery Shopper Scam Dupes Family Out of Thousands - WXXA


Mystery Shopper Scam Dupes Family Out of Thousands
WXXA, NY - Nov 14, 2008
The game plan seemed simple; cash the check, shop at certain locations, give feedback and get paid a couple hundred bucks. The company wanted over $3300 ...

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Best Buy Shoppers in Kennewick Start Shopping At 5 am On Black Friday - KNDO/KNDU


Best Buy Shoppers in Kennewick Start Shopping At 5 am On Black Friday
KNDO/KNDU, WA - Nov 28, 2008
At the register, they paid cash, credit, or checks. Anything to get those long lines moving fast. "Kind of a pain for me, I don't like dealing with all the ...

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